“Cuba is not alone” is not motto, it is reality

International

Blocked and threatened by the main imperialist power, the US, Cuba resists and adds support. It is increasingly aid that reaches the country, through states or the solidarity movement, and the rejection of American policy against the Cuban people and their Revolution is growing.

The repudiation of the increase in the blockade against Cuba extends as its effects are known in the daily life of the Cuban people. In recent weeks, demonstrations of support for Cuba have taken place in several countries, ending the blockade and threats from the US, including military aggression.

In Belgium, in front of the U.S. Embassy, there were many trade unionists, political party leaders, solidarity movement activists and Cuban residents in Belgium who demanded the immediate end of the blockade. In Rome, a demonstration under the motto “Cuba is not a threat” toured historical areas of the city, ending at the Gate of São Paulo, symbol of the Italian resistance to Nazi-fascism. In Paris, one of the French cities in which actions took place, the protesters concentrated next to the Eifel Tower, in a journey promoted by organizations from the most varied areas of social intervention. Together with the U.S. consulate in Johannesburg, South Africa, activists from the South African Communist Party, the African National Congress (ANC), COSATU and other organizations that are part of the solidarity movement, condemned the aggressive U.S. policy against Cuba and reaffirmed solidarity with the Caribbean country.

In Portugal, like Avante! last week, two major initiatives took place in Lisbon: the Conference “Cuba, the Revolution and the World”, in the framework of the celebrations of Fidel Castro’s centenary, which this year is marked, and a Concert of solidarity, entitled “All for Cuba!”.

At the same time, solidarity campaigns are underway to break the blockade and send medicines, food, hospital and school supplies to Cuba and everything else that the American aggression seeks to prevent it from reaching the Cuban people. In Portugal, in the framework of the campaign “For Cuba! End to the Block!” already headed to Cuba a container with diverse material and others will follow. A few days ago the second “European train” arrived in Cuba with solidarity aid, 28 days after the first, in which the Portugal-Cuba Friendship Association participated.

Political and material support

More than a thousand workers from the Cienfuegos refinery work uninterruptedly, 24 hours a day, to secure gasoline, diesel and gas from Russia’s oil donation, the Communist Party of Cuba newspaper Granma reports. The President of the Republic of Cuba, Miguel Diaz-Canel, thanked Russia for its solidarity and praised his country’s close and fraternal relations with Russia and China.

Meanwhile, the People’s Republic of China expressed its support for the joint declaration of Brazil, Mexico and Spain, presented in Barcelona on the 18th. The three countries, and also China, express concern about the humanitarian situation in Cuba, resulting from the energy siege imposed by the US since the end of January this year, and reiterate the need to respect its territorial integrity. Affirming the defence of principles of international law, these countries have pledged to step up aid to Cuba.

China’s position was reaffirmed by a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who stressed that: “China is ready to work with all parties to firmly support Cuba in safeguarding its national sovereignty and security.”

In addition to political support, China has been expanding cooperation with Cuba on energy or food. It has also accelerated the deployment of photovoltaic equipment to hospitals and medical centers and the communities most affected by the power outages. The objective is to contribute to the reduction of the immediate impacts of blackouts and to increase the capacity of electricity generation in the country.

Particularly active in sending material aid to Cuba has also been Mexico, which by the voice of its President, Claudia Sheinbaum, has reaffirmed its opposition to the blockade and its determination to continue support for the Caribbean country and its people.

Resistance and unity

Cuba has begun a national campaign to support the “irrenounceable vocation of peace, essence of the Cuban nation”. Under the motto “My signature for the homeland”, this initiative will cover workplaces, educational institutions and public entities, with the aim of supporting the recent statement of the Cuban Government, which denounces the claims of military aggression and the brutal energy siege by the US, which aggravates the genocidal policy of blocking the last six decades. The first to sign the text was the President of the Republic, Miguel Diaz-Canel.

Already at the beginning of the month, hundreds of young people paraded in Havana, motorcycle, bicycle, scooters and other vehicles, to celebrate the anniversaries of the Pioneers Organization José Martí and the Union of Young Communists. At a time when 80% of the population lived all their lives under the blockade, the leader of the UJC, Meyvis Estévez Echeverría, declared that from the Cuban youth one can only expect “continuity and unity around the Party and the Revolution”.

For May 1, new days of resistance, unity and anti-imperialist struggle are expected.